Commingled crypts: Comparative health among Byzantine monastics in the Levant

Area of Science:

• Bioarchaeology
• Paleopathology
• Early Byzantine Studies

Background:

• Early Byzantine monastic rules mandated detachment from secular life, leading to the bioarchaeological marginalization of monastic communities.
• The Mount Nebo monastic site in Jordan (A.D. 491-640) was hypothesized to have attracted individuals seeking curative benefits, particularly for leprosy, due to its religious significance and proximity to the Dead Sea.

Observation:

• Skeletal remains of 73 adult males from Mount Nebo and 27 individuals from Deir 'Ain 'Abata were analyzed for paleopathology.
• These Jordanian monastic groups were compared to a contemporary group of 117 individuals from the Monastery of Saint Euthymius in the Judean Desert.

Findings:

• No skeletal evidence of leprosy was found in any of the studied monastic groups.
• Mount Nebo monastics showed a paleopathological profile characterized by injuries, severe osteoarthritis, osteoperiostitis, and antemortem tooth loss, with many not reaching old age.
• The paleopathological profile at Deir 'Ain 'Abata was similar to Mount Nebo, while the Khan-el-Ahmar group exhibited negligible paleopathology.

Implications:

• The findings suggest that while spiritual and potential curative attractions (like the Dead Sea) drew monastics to Jordanian sites, leprosy was not a significant factor.
• The study highlights the distinct health profiles and potential environmental influences on monastic communities in the Early Byzantine period.